DID gamesmanship lead to Greg Norman’s first major heartbreak loss at the 1984 US Open?
It could have been a factor, according to Norman’s former coach Charlie Earp.
Charlie was on the Shark’s bag the year American Fuzzy Zoeller tormented the Australian during the 18-hole playoff showdown.
Some time ago, Charlie kindly rekindled the memories of the 1984 US Open at Winged Foot in New York.
Charlie, how did you come to be on Greg’s bag at the US Open in 1984?
He always wanted me to caddie for him in a tournament and it happened to be a US Open at Winged Foot. On the first day, I was a bit jumpy because we were playing with Jack Nicklaus. We were walking down the fairway and Jack said, ‘Isn’t it good to get the first one (tee shot) out of the road’.
Fast forward to the 72nd hole. There was some drama, wasn’t there?
Yes, but before we go there, we have to go back to the 16th. We cut one from the tee behind a tree and Greg had to chip out.
Of course, everyone was with Fuzzy but a few Yank kids came along and said, ‘we’re with you two’.
There wasn’t anyone on the right-hand side of the fairway – they were all on the left with Fuzzy.
Well, Greg chipped out, hit a seven-iron to six feet and canned the putt.
Then on the 17th, he knocked in another good putt for a par.
On 18 (72nd), he hit a good drive and we had a little talk about what he was going to do. He decided to hit a six-iron.
I watched his six-iron shot and thought the way we’re going this could hit the grandstand and might bounce on the green.
I knew it was going to go right because he was too tight through the ball.
Anyway, suddenly this guy jumped up and grabbed the ball when it hit him and it bounced down into the long grass.
He didn’t have a good lie and chunked it out across the green to about 45 feet. As we walked across he said, ‘see that spot there – I’ve got to hit it straight over that’. Then he told me to bugger off.
Well, he hit it straight over the top of that spot and sank the putt for par.
Greg Norman and coach-cum-caddie Charlie Earp at the 1984 US Open.
Was that when Zoeller waved a white towel in mock surrender?
Fuzzy was a hole behind and thought Greg’s putt was for birdie and that’s when he pulled out the white towel.
When Fuzzy knocked his on the green I can remember Laura [Greg’s wife at the time] saying to me, ‘what can happen?’
I said ‘only three things: he can one-putt to win, two putt to be in a playoff or three putt and Greg wins’. He two putted and got in the playoff.
Tell us about the 18-hole playoff.
Before the playoff, Fuzzy gave Greg a toy telephone and told him to ring his mother. He said ‘you’re going to get a thrashing, you know that’.
They play the mental games.
It didn’t end well for Greg, did it?
Both Greg and Fuzzy birdied the first playoff hole and on the second hole Greg decided to use his driver for the first time instead of the two-iron we had been using.
When I pulled the iron out of the bag, Greg said ‘no, give me the driver’.
He carved it right, had to chip out and knocked it near the flag. Fuzzy was up the back of the green with a monstrous (20m) putt downhill and to the right, over a ridge and he canned it for birdie.
Greg said to Fuzzy, ‘what did you do that for’ and Fuzzy replied by saying he was only trying to get it close.
Greg made double-bogey and was three behind after two holes and four behind after four holes. After that, Greg just started rushing and lost his concentration.
FOOTNOTE: In the playoff, Norman carded a 75 to Zoeller’s 67.
Graham, Ogilvy fly Aussie flag
ONLY two Australians have won the US Open – David Graham in 1981 and Geoff Ogilvy in 2006.
Five Aussies have finished runner-up.
Greg Norman lost the playoff in 1984 and was second to Corey Pavin in 1995 and Jason Day was runner-up to Rory McIlroy in 2011 and tied for second in 2013 when Justin Rose lifted the trophy.
In 2003, Stephen Leaney finished three shots behind Jim Furyk, Bruce Crampton was runner-up to Jack Nicklaus in 1972 and Gary Player edged out Kel Nagle (71-74) in the 18-hole playoff in 1965.
Chief writer David Newbery has been living, breathing and writing and editing golf for more than 30 years. His extensive knowledge of the game comes from covering golf around the world. Hired by Inside Golf in 2009, David previously worked as the editor of The Golfer for 25 years and before that worked for numerous daily newspapers in Australia and overseas. The Brisbane-based journalist describes his golf game as “a work in progress”, but has had the privilege of playing golf with some of the game’s best players including nine-time major winner Gary Player. David enjoys travelling, reading, music, photography and spending time with family and friends – on and off the golf course. 
